Could it be that Earl Greiman wants to share the technology of making paper and porcelain with everyone?
This idea came to many people here.
But... is it possible?
If you think about it from another person's perspective, if you master the unique technology in the world, the things you produce can bring you huge profits, and as a noble in a fiefdom, you have enough strength to scare away those who are secretly thinking.
Would you stupidly take it out and share it with others?
"Earl Greiman probably just wants us to sell those things further away for him, right? Although the output is small now, there will definitely be more and more in the future."
"Perhaps the earl means to provide local businessmen with cheaper ex-factory prices in order to support commercial activities in his territory."
"Hmm... That's not bad. You should be able to make a lot of money from the difference between the buying and selling price."
Businessmen such as Bennett who have not yet been exposed to paper and porcelain trading think so.
Then they heard the following sentence:
"Some of you guessed it right. I will authorize you to use certain technologies and processes at the appropriate time, and use everyone's strength to expand the output in the territory."
As soon as the lord said this, the people below were in an uproar.
Everyone ignored their restraints and began to whisper and discuss in twos and threes, and the conference hall began to become noisy.
Paul took a drink of water to moisten his throat while everyone was talking below.
The diffusion of technology and supporting industry and commerce are things he has thought about for a long time. Although the invention and sales of papermaking, porcelain, and harvesters have doubled Lord's Manor's financial income, the corresponding expenses have also doubled.
The daily consumption of the army, the manufacturing and maintenance of weapons, the salaries of Affairs Officer at all levels and various workers, and the construction of Water Conservancy in vast rural areas all require huge expenditures. The remaining money is simply not enough to support the development of various follow-up plans in the Lord's head.
He has thought about raising the prices of the things he sells, but those things are not necessities of life. If they are too expensive, everyone will just stop buying them and live no matter how they live in the future.
For example, if you can't afford porcelain, you still have pottery, but everyone can still drink water and eat. Isn't this how it has been for thousands of years?
There is also no need to keep something like paper with small profits but quick turnover. Others can imitate it if they think about it more.
After some consideration, he took aim at the power of the private sector and decided to support a group of powerful "private enterprises" in Arda and Bairdin, so that Lord's Manor could collect more taxes.
However, some industries still need to be restricted. Machinery manufacturing such as harvesters, as well as Steel Smelting in the future, and such "Heavy Industry", in order to prevent technology leakage and allow more powerful potential opponents to pick the peaches, must still be firmly under the direct control of the Lord's Manor at the current stage.
For example, harvesters, let alone manufacturing, are also restricted in purchase. Now only customers from Arda and Bairdin are allowed to purchase. Unless the markets in these two places are saturated or agricultural upgrades have been completed, customers from outside will be allowed to purchase.
Of course, if there are talented people in other places who can obtain a few units through certain means and copy them, then there is nothing I can do. Anyway, I can stop it a little bit.
There are some things that you must wait until you have established an absolute advantage before letting go.
But for things like papermaking, porcelain making, and the planned Salt Production, Food Processing, and textiles, there is no need to be too cautious about these "Light Industry" projects. They can be opened up to the private sector now to increase tax revenue on the territory.
The scope of the spread still needs to be controlled, it can only be in Arda and Bairdin, otherwise it will be an advantage to other lords.
After Government Affairs Council's negotiation, Lord's Manor will control the above-mentioned industries through technology licensing.
Authorized private factories or workshops will send skilled craftsmen from the Lord's Manor to guide production and train apprentices, but they will also be supervised by confidential personnel sent by the Lord's Manor to prevent the production process and technology from being stolen.
As the number of workers mastering new technologies and processes increases, it has become increasingly difficult and inhumane to centralize them for closed management as before.
Therefore, Government Affairs Council is studying new management methods. The existing ideas include the following: skilled workers are strictly prohibited from immigrating to other places, and violators will be severely fined or jailed;
Improve the treatment of workers and set a minimum wage for workers, which must be observed by both government and private companies to keep talents local; Bureau of Secrecy lists sensitive technologies as confidential matters and strictly prohibits outflow. Workers or operators who master these technologies are listed as confidential personnel, and control over them is strengthened.
Paul hopes that through the above measures, the emergence of characters like "Samuel Slater" can be delayed.
In addition to complying with confidentiality obligations, private operators must also pay Lord's Manor a technology usage fee every year. Such good things cannot be given away in vain.
Of course, if they develop new technologies and processes themselves, they do not need to pay this fee.
Paul wished that there would be a wave of inventions and creations in his territory. To this end, he also used the patent system of the previous life as a template to urge Government Affairs Council to formulate a ""Patent Act"" to protect the interests of inventors. He believed that it would be completed and issued soon.
Although the patent system in the previous life had various drawbacks and was criticized a lot, for example, it weakened the market regulation effect to a certain extent, restricted competition, hindered the progress of technology to a certain extent, hindered the widespread application of inventions and creations, and even led to the emergence of some patent speculators.
However, the patent system generally has more advantages than disadvantages. It uses legal and economic means to encourage people to invent and create to promote scientific and technological progress and economic development. This was also an important factor in promoting the British Industrial Revolution that year.
After everyone discussed it for a while, Paul briefly explained the content of the technology authorization, including the obligations that the authorized party must abide by and the confidentiality regulations for sensitive technologies.
No one had any objections to this.
On the one hand, being able to obtain the exclusive technology of the Lord's Manor is already a piece of cake in the sky. If there is no corresponding payment, they will suspect it is a trap.
On the other hand, no one wants to have too many competitors. The lord wants to prevent technology leakage, and everyone is naturally happy to hear it.
"Do you have any comments?"
Just now I have been talking myself, now Paul wants to hear the opinions of the audience.
After a moment of silence, someone finally boldly raised his hand.
Paul stretched out his hand to this person in a please gesture.
"Lord Greiman..."
The one who raised his hand was Bennett. He was a little nervous. After all, it was his first time to talk to the master of this land one-on-one.
But he still mustered up the courage to continue, "If we invest in the industry you want to open, we will need to purchase space, purchase equipment, and hire workers. These are not small expenses, so can..."
He paused and finished the next words in a low voice. "... Can I reduce some of the tax in the initial stage?"
As soon as these words came out, there was silence in the lobby.